QUICK NEWS, 3-10: WIND EXECS CLAMOR FOR RES; THE THREAT TO CALIF’S CLIMATE LAW; MICHIGAN GRAMMA FOR WIND; INCENTIVES BOOST SUN BIG & SMALL

WIND EXECS CLAMOR FOR RES
Wind Industry Leaders to Congress: Pass National Renewable Electricity Standard to Create Jobs and Maintain American Competitiveness
March 9, 2010 (American Wind Energy Association)

"Leading wind energy industry executives called on Congress… to pass a strong national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) as the best way to save and create U.S. jobs."

[Vic Abate, Vice President for Renewables, leading U.S. turbine maker GE Energy:] “We need to drive demand in a stable, predictable way…For the jobs to grow the Renewable Electricity Standard is critical.”

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It is time not to back off of New Energy-supportive policies but to add them. (click to enlarge)

[John W. Grabner, President, Cleveland, Ohio, turbine bolt manufacturer Cardinal Fastener:] “There are three main points to make about the RES: jobs, jobs, and jobs...”

[Ned Hall, Executive Vice President, AES Wind Generation:] “As a global power company, we balance and make decisions about where to invest years in advance…So I am here to call on Congress to pass a national Renewable Electricity Standard, to create long-term demand in the U.S.”

For only the money it costs to pay for the ink in the pen the President uses to sign an RES into law, the nation gains more than a quarter of a million jobs. (click to enlarge)

[Donald Furman, Senior Vice President, Iberdrola Renewables:] “Manufacturers are chomping at the bit to come to the U.S. and it would be a tragedy if this investment were to stop…The RES is the missing link.”

"…In 2009, wind power was neck and neck with natural gas as the leading source of new electricity in the country. The U.S. added nearly 10,000 megawatts (MW) of new wind power generating capacity, enough to power the equivalent of 2.4 million homes or generate as much electricity as three large nuclear power plants."


THE THREAT TO CALIF’S CLIMATE LAW
The truth and the lies about the campaign to kill AB 32
Cameron Scott, March 9, 2010 (SF Chronicle)

"A new study by a non-partisan legislative analyst says that full implementation of California's groundbreaking climate law, AB 32, will likely cause modest job losses.

"Anti-environmentalists will almost certainly take the finding as a vindication, but that would be overstating the point. Yes, the state overestimated the potential green-jobs boost the bill could have. But this report found nothing suspicious in the state's analysis; rather, it notes that such employment forecasts can be very difficult to make."

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"The analyst's report predicted only modest job losses — and of course, it's involved in precisely the same guesswork…Bland findings aside, you can bet that anti-AB 32 forces will use the report as a hammer as they try to delay the bill's implementation with a ballot measure this November.

"Who are the anti-AB 32 forces? Well, despite flag-bearer Dan Logue's initial promises that no energy companies were funding his campaign, turns out, they are — and out-of-state energy companies at that…Texas energy companies Tesoro Corp. and Valero Energy Corp. are reportedly funding the measure, and have also been reliable contributors to Logue's own campaign coffers."

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"That makes two measures this year that are bought at paid for by corporations they would — maybe someday — affect.

"Amid all the populism the wildly profitable fossil fuel companies are drumming up in their efforts to halt the state's climate change legislation, you can bet they won't mention that air pollution from their industry costs Californians $200 million a year in hospital bills."


MICHIGAN GRAMMA FOR WIND
Letter of the Day: Clean wind energy should be one of Michigan's priorities
Nancy Goedart, March 9, 2010 (Detroit Free Press)

“I’m an old woman who strives to lessen the impact of my carbon footprint so my grandchildren and their children can flourish on a healthy Earth. I have little patience for those who whine about looking at a sunset through the wings of a windmill that’s a mile or more distant. I have seen the windmills in Pennsylvania and think they look majestic. They have an aura of power with grace. The concern that waterfront properties would drop in value is nonsense. People will always want waterfront property, and those who can afford it will buy it. It is, after all, a limited commodity.

“We should be screaming at our politicians: “No more coal fired energy plants; no more nuclear energy plants!” Michigan has nearly 1,000 miles of shoreline where clean wind energy is available. Why is it taking us so long to take advantage of this?”

Gramma knows what she is talking about. (click to enlarge)

“How about wave power, too? That windmills may be a danger to migratory birds is a concern, but birds will learn the dangers of flying near windmills and avoid them.
Ultimately, the windmills will be much less dangerous to birds and other living things than continued use of fossil fuels for energy. Your recent article focused only on the opposition to wind power (“Will Canada’s wind turbine’s invade lakes?” Feb. 26). Your coverage of the subject should be more balanced.

“Don’t you get it yet? Earth will survive no matter what we do. What’s at stake is the planet’s ability to support human life.”


INCENTIVES BOOST SUN BIG & SMALL
Financial Incentives Boost Burgeoning Solar Installation Business
Marty Graham, March 8, 2010 (San Diego Business Journal)

"…[M]ost of the solar installation businesses remained small and local until the combination of rebates, tax credits and financing schemes began with the California Solar Initiative and became more substantial with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009…

"...[But] [The State of Solar] released [by the Greenlining Institute] in January found that the 10 largest installation companies captured just 41 percent of the large-scale installation work in the state, and less than 30 percent of the small-scale installation contracts. Put another way, there’s [still] plenty of room for small companies to compete in the rapidly changing industry…"

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"Small businesses are also benefiting from the combination of decreasing wholesale prices, extraordinary rebates and incentives, and a national consciousness moving toward sustainable resources…

"Solaire is a family-owned business, started by Jarrod Fisk, who worked in heating, ventilation and air conditioning while he started the solar energy business out of his home four years ago…The company works on mostly residential installations, buoyed by generous rebates, tax credits and incentives…Like many small companies, the focus is on technical expertise and financing. Marketing has been taking care of itself, as the world turns green…"

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"Solaire and many smaller businesses…[are] ripe for consolidation…Acro Energy Technologies Corp., Real Goods Solar, SolarCity and Akeena Solar Inc. are among the most aggressive large solar companies acquiring smaller companies, according to Rhonda Fried, director of SustainableBusiness.com. Acro, she notes, began acquiring California companies in February 2009 and is already in the top 10 market share for small solar installations.

"…Akeena, a publicly held company…launched in Silicon Valley in 2001, after founder Barry Cinnamon put panels on his own roof — and then on his neighbors’ roof…Akeena has several different businesses within the company. The company builds its own panels, selling to installers, and just recently began working with Lowe’s home improvement stores to sell photovoltaic solar panels and easy installation kits directly to the public. The company also installs both large- and small-scale solar projects…"